Prime Rib Nightmare (H-Bomb)

It's a little after 5am and I just awoke from a terrible nightmare. Lottie and I were at a construction site. There was a huge, wide and deep hole excavated with a tarp loosely over it. Some people were tossing a ball around, a soccer ball I think, and it fell onto the tarp just short of the edge of the hole. As soon as the tarp slipped from the edge, the ball and anything else on it would plunge in. Lottie ran towards the ball and stopped at the edge of the hole leaning out. I was shouting "No, No!" as I ran towards her. As I was nearly upon her I stretched out my arm to block her from stepping off, but I couldn't catch her. She stepped out - instantly falling down, down, down into the pit. I wasn't able to catch her. I awoke with a start with both hands clasped over my face. It was awful. I can't get the image out of my mind. My stomach feels like I have a rock in it or that it's empty, I can't tell which. Maybe writing it down will help me get past it. It's been a night of tossing & turning and terrible dreams about all sorts of people from my past. I wonder if it was that huge portion of prime rib that is to blame. Beef, it's what's keeping you up at night.

New Day. New Year. (H-Bomb)

It's the first day of the year when all sorts of productive or indulgent or productively indulgent things are meant to occur. So what have I done? Let's see, I pared down my tupperware collection (seriously), tidied up my pantry (no, really), searched for new (to me) music on the web, all the while halfway listening to Radio IQ from the bedroom. (There's only so much CSPAN coverage of Ford's coffin that one girl can take.) When the sun came out Amy and I went for a long walk by the river. Later I joined Amy & Mike for a scrumptious meal at Emily & Julia's house. What a wonderful way to spend the first evening of the year, with good friends in a relaxed and comfortable setting, over a fantastic meal. My Charlottesville family.

We're all looking forward to the new year and even settled on some resolutions. Fitness was at the top of the list (Operation Get Fit - activate!) followed by creating living wills, power of attorney docs, and medical power of attorney docs. Deadline: March 1st. We talked about getting together for board game parties and "24" viewing - not on the same evenings of course. And Mike is going to train Tiny, the rotund and frenetic min pin, to be a good boy. I might join Emily & Julia at the Vermont MS 150 in August. And I'm looking into other bike tours...more on that later.

My web surfing earlier today produced quite a list. Here are some of the artists (and albums) I want to check out and add to my collection:
The Mountain Goats - Get Lonely
The Handsome Family - Last Days of Wonder
OK Go - Oh No
The Coup - Pick A Bigger Weapon
Lupe Fiasco - Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor
Heartless Bastards - All This Time
Girl Talk - Night Ripper
TV On The Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain
Dirty On Purpose - Hallelujah Sirens
Travis Morrison - the fabled new album which has yet to appear
Low - Tonight The Monkeys Die
Arcade Fire - Funeral
Portastatic - Bright Ideas / Be Still Please
Blake Miller - Together With Cats

And then there are the favored artists I already have in my collection but for whom I am missing some of their key work:
Jose Gonzalez
French Kicks
The Decemberists
Josh Rouse
My Morning Jacket
Jim White
Deathray
M Ward
Arctic Monkeys
Iron & Wine
Chris & Thomas
Sufjan Stevens
His Name Is Alive

Looking over the next two months, there are some terrific bands coming to town. Let's go!
Camera Obscura
Brett Dennen - sadly, I'll miss this show
Yo La Tengo
Jonathan Richman
Deerhoof, The Harlem Shakes, Flying
RJD2 - Christoph, wanna go?

There's something I need to tell you. I've been holding off until I could find the right words, but they just aren't coming. It seems like all of Charlottesville knows at this point anyway. Nevertheless, Lottie and I are deeply saddened and heartbroken to tell you of the passing of Bruiser H. Gardner (12.4.96 - 12.19.06), Amy's constant companion and a beloved member of our extended family. He was adored by all who know him as their "Little Mister" in a fur suit. He is missed. Every day.

Scarpa's regular ad in the C-VILLE Weekly on 12.26.06 was used as a memorial announcement and included this information: "In lieu of hot covered dishes, flowers and the like, Bru would be so honored if you would make a donation to the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA in his name. Donations are being accepted at both Scarpa and rock paper scissors. Thanks to the kindness and generosity of Tish and Kyle, Bruiser never made it to the SPCA, but too many dogs do. And although we think we're rescuing the dogs, we know, really, that they're rescuing us. The truth is, here, Bruiser rescued all of us." Donations can also be made online and through the mail to CASPCA, 3355 Berkmar Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22901. Be sure to specify "in memory of Bruiser" with your donation.